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NASCAR will downsize radiators at Daytona and Talladega in an effort to stop tandem drafting. Photo by LAT Photographic

NASCAR: Tandem-drafting addressed by technical changes

December 15, 2011

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In an ongoing effort to discourage “love-bug,” tandem drafting at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR officials said they will detune the cooling systems on Sprint Cup Series cars. Series director John Darby and vice president of competition Robin Pemberton have issued a technical bulletin effective at preseason testing and then Speed Week 2012 at Daytona.

The changes will downsize radiators from five gallons to two and downsize accumulators (overflow cans) from one gallon to a half-gallon. Teams will race with softer springs, a smaller rear spoiler and a slightly larger (29/32-inch) restrictor plate. Officials believe the smaller radiators and accumulators will make the cooling systems less efficient, thus forcing cars to break out of the draft and spend more time in fresh air to keep temperatures down.

Chris Paulson, whose company builds most of the NASCAR radiators, said the changes will work until crews find ways around it.

“But it's still going to have an effect,” he said. “The bigger effect will be moving the grille opening up to the bumper fascia area. [That way], when they're tucked up behind another car, they'll really kill all the air. So they're on the right track with that. They'll get the result [forcing cars out of tight drafts] that way.”

In recent years, restrictor-plate races at Daytona and Talladega have featured two to three dozen sets of two-car drafts. Drivers make deals--often broken in the final laps--to simply ride around together and pit together, each helping the other. They swap positions only when the pushing car begins to overheat and needs fresh air for a few laps. There were record-setting lead chances last season but not enough hard racing throughout the field to satisfy fans.

Even so, the last-lap maneuvering and finishes were spectacular: Trevor Bayne at Daytona Beach in February, Jimmie Johnson at Talladega in April, David Ragan at Daytona in July and Clint Bowyer at Talladega in October.

Cup teams will test the new specs on Jan. 12-14 at Daytona, then return on Feb. 17 for the start of Speed Week. As always, NASCAR reserves the right to adjust its rules at any moment during testing or Speed Week.